A five-year-old cat that was surrendered to a shelter for an "absurd" reason has found a new forever home.
Byakuva was brought to Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) because he "ate too much," according to an Instagram video posted by the shelter's photographer.
In the video he explained: "Meet Byakuva who was surrendered for an absurd reason," explaining: "She added that the cat didn't save any food for the other cat and was selfish for doing so."
Though OCAS staff offered practical solutions, such as feeding the cats separately, the owner dismissed these ideas, saying that separating feeding schedules was simply "too much work."
As it turned out, the woman was not Byakuva's original owner. A scan of his microchip revealed that her son had adopted him from the shelter the previous year. When staff contacted him, he acknowledged the issue but ultimately supported his mother's decision to surrender the cat.
"This poor cat was abandoned over something as trivial as a big appetite," Harris wrote in the video caption. He described the tabby as "terrified" and "hissing at anyone that approaches him," after he was surrendered, a behavior that often deters potential adopters.
In 2023, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, up 4 percent when compared to 2022 intakes. At the end of 2023, 117,000 additional dogs and cats were in the animal sheltering system compared to the same time the year before.
In the comments on Instagram, people shared their reactions. "I hope this sweet boy finds a better family cause he deserves it," said one commenter. While another wrote: "He deserves better!! Shame on the person who abandoned him."
Thankfully, just a week after he was surrendered, Byakuva has now been adopted. Bryant Almeida from OCAS told Newsweek: "It took him time to warm up and drop his guard, but believe it or not, a lot of spicy cats get adopted at the shelter. People seem to like being the ones to win them over. When he was adopted, it was as if he just instinctively knew this was the person for him."
Now, Byakuva is living his best life in a new home, where he is loved despite a larger appetite.
"Adoptions aren't supposed to be easy; but they save lives," Almeida said. "A lot of these animals have lived hard lives, and I think they want what we all want—peace and safety."
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